Pet Place

HOLIDAY HAZARDS FOR PETS!

and New Year’s Eve. Christmas trees are going up, holiday lights brighten our desert, and parties (though smaller) are planned. There may be fewer than usual friends and family members at your holiday table this year due to COVID-19 concerns. However, you can count on attendance from faithful Fluffy and Fido under the table or lingering nearby hoping for a holiday treat.

However, this time of year also sees a dramatic increase in emergency trips to the vet for our four-legged friends. In the frenzy of activity, we may overlook the dangers that certain holiday foods, plants and decorations pose to cats and dogs.

One of your dinner party guests might be tempted to give Benji a sample from his plate. Sugar, chocolate, turkey skin, turkey bones, gravy, and avocados can be harmful to a dog. Onions, garlic, raisins, grapes, and nuts, (particularly walnuts and macadamia nuts) are very dangerous when consumed by a dog in large quantities. Many sauces contain onions and garlic which have sulfoxides and disulfides poisonous to pets in all forms, raw, cooked, or powder. These same foods are also harmful for cats.

Keep that bowl of holiday candy off the coffee table where a pet can reach it. Chocolate in particular is very dangerous for animals. Candy and gum containing the artificial sweetener xylitol is very hazardous. Alcoholic beverages and caffeine drinks are also harmful.

Toxicity from these foods can produce a myriad of symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, weakness, drunken gait, hyperactivity, tremors, and coma. Symptoms may vary depending on the substance ingested. Consult your vet immediately if you suspect your pet has ingested a toxic food or plant.

Poinsettias are not as toxic as once believed, however sampling a leaf from one can make your dog mildly ill or cause swelling to the skin. Even worse than poinsettias are holly, lilies and mistletoe. A kiss under the mistletoe might add romance to your holiday, but mistletoe can cause erratic behavior and even cardiovascular collapse when ingested by your pet. Mistletoe berries can also be a hazardous.

Dr. Lillian Roberts of Country Club Animal Clinic in Palm Desert sees a dramatic influx of patients this time of year. She advises, “Avoid ornaments or decorations that are small and easy to swallow, as these can quickly lead to intestinal blockage and emergency surgery. This also includes

BY JANET McAFEE

tinsel, ribbon, and small loose bells that cats find irresistible. I once x-rayed a dog only to discover an entire glass ornament sitting in his stomach. Surgery was needed to get the ornament out.”. Dr. Roberts offers these additional tips to keep your animals safe and healthy:

Unplug Christmas tree lights and other electrical decorations when you are not home. Cords are attractive chew toys for kittens and puppies, and if chewed when plugged in can be very dangerous.

Make sure anything you add to the water under your tree is not poisonous. Pets WILL drink from this bowl. Flocked trees are also a bad idea.

You can feed your dog turkey in moderation, but don’t include the skin, bones or gravy. Mixing a high fat meal with holiday stress is a recipe for GI upset.

If your dog has a sensitive stomach or

The 2020 holiday season has arrived! Thanksgiving is next week, followed by Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza,

MEET STACY

This lovely gentle Shepherd girl is at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms. She’s 7 yrs old, already spayed, and hopes to spend the holidays in a loving home. Email shelterinfo@rivco.org with her ID#1601422 and call (760) 343-3644. www.rcdas.org

food allergies, don’t share your holiday meal.

MEET CHRISSY

Bring Chrissy home with you for the holidays! This active 5-yr-old German Shepherd mix girl hopes for a dog experienced home to love her this season. The Humane Society of the Coachella Valley in N. Palm Springs rescued her when her owner died. Call for an appointment to meet Chrissy (760) 329-0203.

Make sure visitors don’t leave gates, doors, and windows open that allow animals to escape. Keep collars and ID tags with your phone number on pets at all times.

Keep your vet’s contact information close at hand. The only 24-hr animal hospital in the Coachella Valley is VCA, 46920 Jefferson just north of Highway 111, Indio (760) 342-4712. Contact the 24hour Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680. Country Club Animal Clinic with Dr. Lillian Roberts can be reached at (760) 776-7555. Keep these phone numbers on your cell phone in case of an emergency.

Give thanks for your dogs and cats who will happily keep you company! I wish you and your 4-legged family members a safe and happy holiday season!

Janetmcafee8@gmail.com ---------------------------------------------------

Below is a partial list of shelters and rescues in the Inland Empire with animals for adoption. They are currently closed for walk-ins, and you must call for an appointment. You can view most of their animals online before calling. Thank you for rescuing!

COACHELLA VALLEY ANIMAL CAMPUS

– The county shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. You can view the animals at all four Riverside county shelters at www.rcdas.org, and get the ID number of the animal you want to adopt. Email them the animal’s ID number at shelterinfo@rivco.org, or schedule a virtual

adoption appointment at www.rcdas.org, 72050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, (760) 343-3644. (Public)

PALM SPRINGS ANIMAL SHELTER – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. They schedule appointments Wednesday through Monday. View their animals online at www. psanimalsshelter.org, 4575 E. Mesquite Ave, Palm Springs, (760) 416-5718. (Public)

ANIMAL SAMARITANS – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. View their animals at www. animalsamaritans.org. Email acorrow@ animalsamaritans.org to foster. Located at 72307 Ramon Rd, Thousand Palms, (760) 601-3918. (Private)

CALIFORNIA PAWS RESCUE - The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Located at 73650 Dinah Shore, Palm Desert. View their animals at www. californiapawsrescue.com, (760) 656-8833. (Private)

HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE COACHELLA

VALLEY – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt a dog or cat. This shelter has lots of big dogs in addition to small dogs and cats. View some of their animals at www.orphanpet.com. Located at 17825 N. Indian Canyon, Palm Springs, (760) 329-0203. (Private)

KITTYLAND – The shelter is closed so call for an appointment to adopt a cat. Located at 67600 18th Avenue, Desert Hot Springs, www.kittylandrescue.org, (760) 251-2700. (Private)

FOREVER MEOW – Foster based rescue for cats located in Rancho Mirage. Contact them at www.ForeverMeow.org, (760) 3356767. (Private)

PRETTY GOOD CAT – Foster based rescue for cats located in La Quinta. Contact them at www.prettygoodcat.com, (760) 660-3414 (Private)

LOVING ALL ANIMALS – The shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Located at 83496 Avenue 51, Coachella, www.lovingallanimals.org, (760) 834-7000. (Private)

MORONGO BASIN HUMANE SOCIETY – Located at 4646 Sun View Rd, Joshua Tree, www.mbhumanesociety.com, call between 11am-4pm for updates (760) 366-3786 (Private)

CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ANIMAL

SHELTER – Shelter is closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Hours for adoption 10am – 4pm Tuesday thru Sat. Google “City of San Bernardino Animal Shelter” for website to view animals and get the ID number of the animal you want to meet. Located at 333 Chandler Place, San Bernardino, (909) 384-1304 or (909) 3847272. (Public)

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY ANIMAL

SHELTER AT DEVORE – Shelter closed but you can call for an appointment to adopt. Call (909) 386-9280 daily. View animals at www.sbcounty.gov/acc and get the ID number of animal you want to meet. Located at 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino (Public).

DREAM TEAM ANGELS RESCUE - Foster based rescue located in Grand Terrace/San Bernardino area. Contact them through website www.DreamTeamangelsrescue. com, (360) 688-8884. (Private)